"A terrific new anthology of American folk music. Grade A"

- Robert Christgau, Noisey -

American Epic: The Soundtrack highlights 15 recordings from the Emmy-nominated American Epic historical documentary series on CD or vinyl LP, including original recordings by The Carter Family, Mississippi John Hurt, Charley Patton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and more all restored to unprecedented levels of sonic fidelity. For this release, engineer Nicholas Bergh refined a transfer process using a mix of both modern and vintage equipment in order to extract the remarkable resolution from the records that is often missed. This reverse engineering approach to the transfer process enabled the restoration team of Grammy Award-winning engineer Peter Henderson, Duke Erikson and Joel Tefteller to get the resulting audio closer to the original performance than ever before.

This is not "remastering," in the normal sense, but something closer to fine art restoration. The intent is not for people to marvel at the antiquity of these discs, but rather to experience them as vital, immediate performances that speak to us as directly as they did on the day they were recorded not simply great art for their time, but great art for all times.

Track Listing

Gonna Die with My Hammer in My Hand by Williamson Brothers & Curry

On the Road Again by Memphis Jug Band

Frankie by Mississippi John Hurt

Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow by The Carter Family

Mal Hombre by Lydia Mendoza

Peg and Awl by Carolina Tar Heels

Tomi Tomi by The Aloha Serenaders Featuring Sol K. Bright

The Indian Tom Tom by Big Chief Henry's Indian String Band

Cocaine Habit Blues by Hattie Hart & Memphis Jug Band

Up Above My Head by Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Down the Dirt Road Blues by Charley Patton

Allons à Lafayette by Joseph Falcon

Stackalee by Frank Hutchison

Waiting for a Train by Jimmie Rodgers

Jole Blon by The Breaux Brothers with Louis Michot

(Frankie, Cocaine Habit Blues, Up Above My Head, and Jole Blon are exclusive to this compilation. The other tracks are also available on American Epic: The Collection)